AN: I'm sorry about the inaccuracy of last week's chapter. Where I said Rick lit a cigarette, I know that Rick is only a drug and alcohol addict. It was just cool and dramatic, so I added it in. My bad.
A calm breeze swept through the razor-sharp bamboo forest. Under Richard's direction, machines hummed and shimmered as synthetic clouds released micro-mist into the sky, gradually regulating the atmosphere. Plant life thickened, colors grew richer, and new creatures hatched from engineered pods. Morty crouched beside one such pod, watching as a soft, multi-eyed slug squirmed into existence. "This one should cry-sing lullabies when it senses sadness," Morty suggested. "Like, soothing tones for Morty Jr., y'know? In case he has a bad dream."
Richard didn't look up from his interface. "Species: Theremafluffin. Mood-triggered tonal emitter. Done."
"Awesome! Oh, can we make something that glows gently when he's scared? Like, but not too bright or whatever. Just like... warm-glow, 'you're safe now' vibes?"
Richard sighed. "Fine. Let's toss in a photoreactive bioluminescent species. Name?"
Morty blinked. "Uh... Night Snugglers?"
A flick of the wrist, a few gene-sequencing codes. "Night Snugglers... uploaded."
Morty watched the habitat develop, colorful creatures frolicking, soft winds swaying the bamboo, calm rhythmic pulses radiating from the ecosystem itself. It was almost beautiful. Richard, standing above it all, remained unblinking. "Eventually," he muttered to himself, "even this world will rot. All things do."
Suddenly, Morty barged in holding a hastily scribbled list. "Hey! Uh, sorry, but I just thought, like maybe some guardians? Big, soft, but strong creatures? Y'know, in case Morty Jr. ever gets bullied by, like, wild squirrels or whatever?"
Richard let out a long exhale. "You are catastrophizing, Morty."
"Yeah, but like, what if?!" More gene codes were entered. Guardian creatures resembling lion-sized koalas with titanium claws slinked from pods minutes later.
{Earth}
Rick's curse-removal business thrived. Lineups stretched down the block as people dumped their cursed blenders, haunted engagement rings, and vampire Roombas. Rick lazily flicked a wand-like tool over a cursed sock puppet. "There. No longer racist."
Across the street, in the dusty quiet of Needful Things, Mr. Needful stood atop a rickety stool, a noose in hand, whispering old infernal rites. His eyes were bloodshot and hollow until the stool was kicked out from under him. But he didn't fall. Summer stood behind him, having rigged a floating spell to catch him mid-drop. She looked up, furious. "Are you kidding me? You're gonna kill yourself because my grandfather yelled at you? That's like his morning warm-up! Get up!"
She dragged him down, then stormed across the street. Rick, fixing a hexed Rubik's Cube, didn't even look up. "You are the worst, Rick!" she exploded. "You ruin everything! Everything you touch! You act like nothing matters because you're a nihilist or whatever, but you hurt people. You're just a mean, egoistic, manipulative jerk, and I'm done!"
She stomped off. Rick watched her go. Shrugged. Then pressed a single red button.
BOOM.
The curse-removal shop exploded behind him. Rick casually walked away as the fire department materialized from a pocket dimension. "Wasn't even insured," he muttered. "Therapeutic detonation."
{Summer and Mr.Needful}
Summer and Needful work side-by-side. Rebranding the store. Automating minor chores. Hiring demon interns. Opening locations in New York, London, and Flesh World 7. Profits soared. They stood on a stage at the International Expansion Gala. Fancy suits, champagne, applause. Summer smiled. "We've come a long way, haven't we? Who knew an ancient spirit of evil and a high school girl could change the world?"
Mr. Needful chuckled awkwardly. "Yes... about that..."
He stepped away from the crowd, wiping sweat from his brow. Then returned with a pink slip. "I'm terminating your position as CEO, Summer."
The room fell quiet. "What?" she said, barely audible.
"I... appreciate everything you've done. But your attitude lately has been disruptive to the company culture. And the Board feels... you've grown unstable."
Summer blinked rapidly, holding back tears. "Okay. Yeah. Fine."
Mr. Needful softened. "We're still friends. I'll help you find something—"
"No need," she whispered, walking past him, empty-eyed. She got home. Ignored Beth's greeting. Went straight to her room. She shut the door.
{Planet Bamboonix}
In the outer bamboo sectors, something stirred. A red jelly-like creature slithered along the roots of the forest, a Glorbusian named Vellnex. Once part of Richard's bio-army, he had been dishonorably discharged for calling Morty Jr "overrated fluff."
His life crumbled. No more food rations. No more HomePod. No respect. But he was done being polite. "They think they can exile me?" Vellnex hissed, rallying a dozen other disbanded units. "We built this world. And now, we take it back."
{Moments Later – The Castle}
Morty Jr., napping with his emotional support slug, perked up as distant tremors rocked the castle floor. Morty ran in with a tray of food, but was stopped by the sudden alarm. "INCOMING HOSTILES, HIGH THREAT, INTERNAL SPECIES CLASSIFIED."
Morty paled. "What... what the hell!?"
Outside, Vellnex and his forces crashed through the forest, riding mechanical bamboo beasts and launching explosive spores. The outer guards fell instantly, most of them joining the rebellion mid-fight.
Morty rushed down the hall looking for Richard. "RICHARD! WE'RE UNDER ATTACK!! Where the hell are you!?"
No answer. Then, from the shadows, an arrow struck Morty in the shoulder. He collapsed with a groan. Morty Jr. stood in the doorway, eyes locked on his wounded father. Something snapped. His eyes turned crimson. His soft fur hardened into black, armored scales. His tail whipped like a serpent, and his claws tore the ground open. A beast emerged.
SCREAMS. PANIC. SURRENDER.
Within minutes, the rebellion was ash and echoes. Morty, barely conscious, looked up at Morty Jr., panting in the ruins.
"Thank you... uncle," Mort. said softly before jumping into the screaming army, Velln, ex long de, ad turned into mush in the hands of this beast. And then a hand grabbed Morty by the collar.
"Time to go." Richard stood behind him, expression unreadable. "Fun's over."
Morty Jr. stirred, looking up. "Goodbye... Uncle Father."
As the ship lifted off, the planet receded into the distance, once a paradise, now forever scarred. Morty looked back. "Why didn't you help?" Richard didn't answer.